Late 2013 iMac SSD upgrade

[b1llyb0y]

Hi!

I have a late 2013 iMac that has a factory installed 256gb SSD .. I find that I am running out of space now, i am confused as to which SSD would work on it?

I have read there are PCIe now, i am unsure as to whether I need a standard SATA or a PCIe and am unsure what models / makes would work?

Appreciate any help given.

 

[b1llyb0y]

Nobody?

 

[matreya]

You have limited upgrade options available to you with this model iMac. The PCIe SSD inside the iMac cannot be replaced by a 3rd-party SSD. So, you'd have to find a larger PCIe specifically for your model iMac on eBay that someone has pulled from another machine.

Your alternative is to buy an external thunderbolt enclosure and an SSD.

 

[b1llyb0y]

Thanks for the reply, would you or anybody else know the relevant model numbers / apple product codes? as Genuine Apple SSD would be just fine

 

[matreya]

Thanks for the reply, would you or anybody else know the relevant model numbers / apple product codes? as Genuine Apple SSD would be just fine

Sorry I don't know the part numbers/product codes for a replacement PCIe SSD.

 

[0111587]

What about additional 3d. party SSD?
Isn't that possible?

 

[matreya]

What about additional 3d. party SSD?
Isn't that possible?

iMacs fitted with PCIe SSDs don't have sata socket for HDD. You'd need an iMac that was factory fitted with a Fusion drive to be able to upgrade it's HDD to an SSD...

 

[0111587]

iMacs fitted with PCIe SSDs don't have sata socket for HDD. You'd need an iMac that was factory fitted with a Fusion drive to be able to upgrade it's HDD to an SSD...

DAMN! FAIL FAIL FAIL!!
If I only knew that before I bougt SSD 256 only!
I was always planning to add extra SSD to my iMac, is there no way to add this "extra sata socket" ?

So the option is to by authentic PCIe SSD or add external thunterbolt ssd drive?

Would this high speed Samsug PCIe SSD work:
http://www.extremetech.com/computin...ie-3-0-ssd-breaking-2gbps-performance-barrier

 

[matreya]

DAMN! FAIL FAIL FAIL!!
If I only knew that before I bougt SSD 256 only!
I was always planning to add extra SSD to my iMac, is there no way to add this "extra sata socket" ?

I haven't seen any way to do that, perhaps someone else might know a way?

So the option is to by authentic PCIe SSD or add external thunterbolt ssd drive?

Yes.

Would this high speed Samsug PCIe SSD work:
http://www.extremetech.com/computin...ie-3-0-ssd-breaking-2gbps-performance-barrier

No, because Apple PCIe SSDs have a proprietary interface :/ There are currently no 3rd-party PCIe SSDs available for your iMac

 

[0111587]

I haven't seen any way to do that, perhaps someone else might know a way?



Yes.



No, because Apple PCIe SSDs have a proprietary interface :/ There are currently no 3rd-party PCIe SSDs available for your iMac

And where can I buy 1TB PCIe SSD original and authenticated from Apple ?

 

[matreya]

And where can I buy 1TB PCIe SSD original and authenticated from Apple ?

There's one reseller on eBay that is asking more than the cost of an iMac for the SSD...

Seriously, you're better off going with an external SSD or moving your iTunes folder to an external hard drive...

 

[0111587]

I haven't seen any way to do that, perhaps someone else might know a way?



Yes.



No, because Apple PCIe SSDs have a proprietary interface :/ There are currently no 3rd-party PCIe SSDs available for your iMac

Thank you for your replies.
Looks like i have to bite the bullet on this one.
Can you recommend some good external thunderbolt SSD box?

 

[matreya]

Can you recommend some good external thunderbolt SSD box?

This:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MOTGTBH5T1.0/

I took the HDD out of it (unfortunately you cannot buy a small Thunderbolt enclosure that doesn't already have a drive inside it) and put in a 480GB Intel 730 SSD, but if you can afford it, you should be able to use something like a 1TB Samsung 850 EVO...

Another option if you can live with the reduced size is:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Lacie/9000491/

Although going from 256 to 500-odd GB is hardly a big improvement.

 

[0111587]

This:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MOTGTBH5T1.0/

I took the HDD out of it (unfortunately you cannot buy a small Thunderbolt enclosure that doesn't already have a drive inside it) and put in a 480GB Intel 730 SSD, but if you can afford it, you should be able to use something like a 1TB Samsung 850 EVO...

Another option if you can live with the reduced size is:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Lacie/9000491/

Although going from 256 to 500-odd GB is hardly a big improvement.

This:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MOTGTBH5T1.0/

I took the HDD out of it (unfortunately you cannot buy a small Thunderbolt enclosure that doesn't already have a drive inside it) and put in a 480GB Intel 730 SSD, but if you can afford it, you should be able to use something like a 1TB Samsung 850 EVO...

Another option if you can live with the reduced size is:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Lacie/9000491/

Although going from 256 to 500-odd GB is hardly a big improvement.

Thank you for that information, good to know there is option after all. I did split my 256 with bootcamp, tvo 128gb partitions one for win and one for macos. My iMac is almost unusable with so little space.
I will buy one of the option you linked here, the orange one has built in ssd and the other one has hdd to swap out. I have to choose

Have you done speedtest on your external drive? If so are you satisfied ?
And do you have your system files there or just additional space?
I was thinking of having the internal drive for macos and the external for windows and some games, given it will work that way.

 

[matreya]

Have you done speedtest on your external drive? If so are you satisfied ?

Yes, I get about 485MB/sec reads on it, 385MB/sec writes.

And do you have your system files there or just additional space?

It's a clone of my entire system volume.

I was thinking of having the internal drive for macos and the external for windows and some games, given it will work that way.

I have no experience with using Windows on an external thunderbolt enclosure... good luck with that.

 

[0111587]

Thanks again for all the answers, 485MB/385MB is great speed for external drive.
I will take my change with this one and some good SSD.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MOTGTBH5T1.0/

Thanks.

 

[CDN Logic]

Hi!

I have a late 2013 iMac that has a factory installed 256gb SSD .. I find that I am running out of space now, i am confused as to which SSD would work on it?

I have read there are PCIe now, i am unsure as to whether I need a standard SATA or a PCIe and am unsure what models / makes would work?

Appreciate any help given.

Check out this link first http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...grade-imac-hard-drive-aluminum-2012-2013.html